Pressurized beverage dispenser development



Jan. 11, 1966 R, w. COUFFER 3,228,559

PRESSURIZED BEVERAGE DISPENSER DEVELOPMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1963 /0 V VF/GZ I NVENTOR.

Poberf ZJ. Cou fire r Cw; 2%, A; ORNEYQ United States Patent 3,228,559PRESSURIZED BEVERAGE DISPENSER DEVELOPMENT Robert W. Conifer, Deerfield,Ill., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, 11]., acorporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 309,481 12Claims. (Cl. 222-52) The present invention relates to pressurizedbeverage dispensers and more particularly relates to a self containedpressurized dispenser having means for maintaining the containedbeverage under a relatively constant pressure even as the beverage iswithdrawn from the container.

This invention will find particular utility in a carbonated drink orbeer dispenser of a size and shape adapted for use in householdrefrigerators. Such household dispensers may be constructed in the formof a keg or an oblong can and of a size such that they will fitconveniently on the shelf of a household refrigerator. The keg or canwill have a tap valve at one end thereof to provide a means whereby ifdesired, the contained beverage can be drawn off without removing thekeg from its shelf. A safety valve will be provided on the cover torelieve pressure at 50 to 75 psi.

Ideally, such a pressurized dispenser will be a complete self-containedone requiring no external pressurizing device and yet being of very lowcost and thus susceptible of high quantity production and distributableon a depositfor-return basis. The present invention is directed to sucha dispenser.

It is recognized that valves used in controlling the rates of flow ofhighly pressurized gases sometimes tend to freeze-up in use. An assemblyconstructed in accordance with the present invention however obviatesthis problem because the pressurized fluid valve is completely immersedwithin the beverage and the beverage conducts the low emperature awayfrom the valve to prevent such freezeup.

A bellows assern ly is employed in the structure formed in accord withthis invention, but unlike other bellowsassociated dispensers thebellows of the present invention is so formed and situated in thecontainer that upon bellows failure, the system will fail safe in thatnone of the beverage will be lost to the atmosphere, nor will anypressurizing fluid be permitted to pass into the beverage after suchfailure.

In general the pressurized beverage dispenser which forms the subject ofthe present invention comprises a container which defines abeverage-containing chamber and which has a pressurized fluid bottlemounted within the chamber. The pressurized fluid bottle may contain agas such as CO under pressures in the realm of 1200 psi. A valve isassociated with the bottle to control the flow of CO therefrom and thisvalve is actuated as a function of the pressure of the beveragecontained within the said chamber.

Beverage pressure is sensed and valve actuation efiected by a bellowswhich has one end seated on a bellows platform and which has itsopposite end cooperable with the valve to control actuation thereof. Thebellows is completely immersed within the beverage but only the valvecooper-able end thereof is movable and directly exposed to the beverage;the opposite end being held rigidly on the bellows platform.

The bellows itself contains a fluid which remains under a relativelyconstant pressure so that bellows end wall movement (and thereby valveactuation) is effected only when a differential pressure exists acrossthe said end wall. Obviously then the pressure of fluid within thebellows can be determinitive of the pressure to which the beverage willbe subject.

In addition to the foregoing, the bellows platform is adjustably mountedwithin the chamber so that by varying the position of the platformwithin the chamber the beverage pressure point at which valve actuationwill be effected will also be varied. Still further, this adjustablemounting feature permits the bellows to be held out of engagement withthe valve so that closure of the valve will be assured during transit.

In view of the foregoing it is a principle object of the presentinvention to provide an improved self-contained pressurized beveragedispenser having means for maintaining the contained beverage under arelatively constant pressure even as the beverage is withdrawn from thecontainer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pressurizedbeverage dispenser of the type above described which can be producedreadily and at low cost and which is designed so that the pressurizingfluid control valve will not freeze up in use.

Another object of the invention resides in a provision of such adispenser which employs a pressurized bellows assembly for controllingthe flow of pressurizing fluid to the beverage in accordance with thepressure of the beverage and which, upon breakage, will fail safe sothat none of the beverage will be lost to the atmosphere.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in the provision ofa pressurized beverage dispenser employing a beverage immersed bellowsand including also manual means for disabling the bellows to assurevalve closure during container transport. Another and important objectof the invention resides in the provision of manual means for adjustablymounting the bellows within the chamber so that the beverage pressurepoint at which valve actuation is effected can also be varied.

These and other objects and advantages and features of the presentinvention will become apparent from time to time as the followingspecification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a pressurizedbeverage dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention and showing the bellows assembly and the associatedpressurizing fluid bottle in detail; and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the beverage dispenser.

The container 10 is fragmentarily shown in the drawing as having an endcap 11 threadedly mounted thereon. As noted above, the container 10 maybe designed in the form of a keg if desired for use in dispensing beerand in such event may be of a size suitable for placement on the shelfof a household refrigerator. In such an instance, the container 10 willbe provided at one end or the other with a tap valve V, such as is shownin FIGURE 2, so that the contained beverage can be drawn off withoutremoving the container from its position on the refrigerator shelf.

The container 10 and associated end cap 11 serve to define a beveragecontaining chamber 12 having a bellows assembly 13 and pressurized fluidbottle 14 mounted therein.

The pressurized fluid bottle 14 may contain carbon dioxide or any otherpressurizing fluid suitable to the character of the beverage containedwithin the chamber 12. In the case of keg-type beer dispensersproportioned for use in a household refrigerator, the bottle 14 willpreferably contain liquid carbon dioxide under a pressure ofapproximately 1200 psi. The bottle 14 has its neck 15 threadedly mountedwithin a central threaded bore 16 formed in a supporting strap orstirrup 17 which stirrup has its outturned end 18 mounted on and rigidlysecured to the cap 11 by means of mounting screws 19.

A valve fitting 20 is threadedly mounted within the neck 15 of thebottle 14 at the mouth 21 thereof and has a ported transverse wall 22 toslidably receive the shank 23 of valve member 24 therethrough. The valvemember 24 has an enlarged head 25 formed on the upper end thereof and aflat valve head 26 formed on the opposite end thereof; The valve head 26is cooperable with an annular seat 27 which is formed on the fitting 20and which faces the interior of the bottle 14. As a result of thisdisposition of parts and the fact that the fluid within the bottle 14 isunder very high pressure, the internal bottle pressure will normallytend to seat the valve head 26 on its seat and prevent the escape of anyfluid from the bottle to the chamber 12. Ports 28 are formed within thetransverse wall 22 and permit fluid to flow into the chamber 12, whenthe valve head 26 has been unseated.

The bellows assembly 13 is the means by which pressure of the beveragewithin the chamber 12 is sensed and actuation of valve member 24 iseffected.

The bellows assembly 13 comprises generally a bellows platform 30 havingthe end wall 31 of a bellows 32 seated thereon. The bellows platform 30is itself rotatably mounted on the innermost end of an adjustment screw33 which, in turn, is threadedly mounted in and guided by the boss 34formed integrally with and centrally of the end cap 11. As previouslymentioned, a rotational mounting is provided at 35 so that rotation ofthe adjustment screw 33 need not effect rotation of the platform 30.Since such a rotational mounting is well understood by those skilled inthe art however it is not shown in detail.

As also previously noted, the end wall 31 of bellows 32 is seated on theplatform 30. The opposite end wall 36 of the said bellows is formed ofmetal or other nonyielding material and has an enlarged boss 37 formedintegrally therewith and depending therefrom in the center thereof. Theboss 37 abuts the head 25 as the uppermost end of the valve member 24 sothat expensive bellows movement will be transmitted to the valve memberto unseat the valve head 26 from the seat 27 and permit the escape of COfrom the bottle 14.

As has already been pointed out, the bellows 32 is filled with a fluidunder pressure. For a bellows adapted for use in a household typepressurized beer dispenser, the bellows may have an end' wall 36 with adiameter of about three inches and with a seven square inch surfacearea, and under such circumstances the pressure of fluid within thebellows may be under a pressure of 15 to 20 p.s.i.

If the bellows internal pressure is 15 to 20 p.s.i. and the liquid COpressure is approximately 1200 p.s.i. the beverage within chamber 12will be maintained under pressure of 10 to 12 p.s.i.

It is well understood of course that desired pressures for beers varywith the types of carbonations of the beers and with the temperaturesunder which the beer is stored. The system which we have here disclosedcan of course be modified by increasing the pressure of fluid within thebellows, increasing the surface area of the end wall 36 of the bellows,or decreasing the surface area of the valve head 26 in order to raisethe pressure, level of the beverage within thev chamber 12. Obviouslypressure level of the beer in chamber 12 could be lowered also.

The adjustment screw 33 however provides a means whereby the pressurelevel of valve actuation can be varied manually after the bellowsassembly has been installed. It will be observed that and O-ring 38 isseated within the boss 34 in surrounding relationship to the head 39 ofthe screw 33 to provide a positive fluid seal. By tightening down thescrew 33 as is shown in the drawing, the fluid within the bellows willbe placed under greater compression and valve unseating will thereforetake place at a higher beverage pressure level than if the screw weremoved longitudinally upwardly from the position shown.

When the force of pressurized fluid within the bellows 32 actingdownwardly on the end wall 36-exceeds the combined upward force ofbeverage pressure within the chamber 12, a spring 40, and the pressureof CO within the bottle 14 acting upwardly on the valve member 24, thehead 26 will be unseated from the seat 27 and CO will escape from thebottle through the ports 23 and into the chamber 12. When the pressureof the beverage within chamber 12 has increased to such a point that thesum of its upwardly directed force on the end wall 36 and the upwardlydirected force of the pressurized CO on the valve member 24 and theupwardlydirected force of the spring 40 exceeds the downwardly directedforce of the pressurized fluid within bellows 32, the valve member 24will again be seated. Such action will take place each time beverage isdrawn off the container.

The conical compression spring 40 is interposed between the stirrup 17and the end wall 36 of the bellows 32 to aid in assuring quick shutoffof the valve member 24 should there for some reason be a failure of thebe]- lows 32.

In addition, it is very important to note that a plurality of legs 41extend along the side of the bellows 32 and have in-t urned fingers 42which extend over the under surface of the end wall 36. The spacingbetween the inner surface of the platform 30 and the inner surface ofthe inturned fingers '42 is such that when the platform 30 is in thenormal operating position shown in the drawing bellows movement will notbe interfered with. It will be noted however that by rotating theadjustment screw 33 within the boss 34 the platform 30 can be movedaxially in the direction of the inner surface of the end cap 11 and thatsuch movement can be effected to an extent suflicient to cause the innersurfaces of the fingers 42 to engage the periphery of the end wall 36and move the boss 37 thereof out of engagement with the head 25 of valvemember 24. When such movement is effected a positive closure is providedfor, the gas bottle 14. Such an adjustment will of course be desirablewhen the container is to be shipped from one place to another to assurethat there will not be an undue buildup of pressure in the chamber 12caused by extreme temperature variances and rough handling. Once thecontainer has reached its destination the adjustment screw 53 can thenbe screwed down to approximately the position illustrated in the drawingand the bellows assembly will then be operational.

In addition, separate means are provided for initially charging theinterior of the container with CO so that the bottled gas need not beemployed for this purpose. A simple time-type valve can be mounted onthe container for this purpose and when the bottle is initially mounted.on the container the bellows assembly can be adjusted to its transportposition to prevent opening of the valve 24.

It will be understood that this embodiment of he pres en invention hasbeen used for illustrative purposes only and that various modificationsand variations in the invention may be effected without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A beverage dispenser comprising:

a container having a tap valve for withdrawing beverage therefrom anddefining a beverage-containing chamber,

a pressurizing fiuid vessel mounted on said container and having anorifice opening from the interior thereof to said chamber,

a valve member cooperable with said orifice and movable longitudinallyto control the rate of fluid flow therethrough,

a bellows support,

a sealed bellows defining a closed chamber filled with a control fluidunder pressure and rnouned at one end on said bellows support and havingits other end engageable with said valve member,

said other end of said bellows having its outer surfac exposed to thebeverage within said chamber,

whereby pressure differential across said other end of said bellowscauses said other end to move said valve member to control fluid flowthrough said orifice, and

means limiting the degree of movement of said other end of said bellowsrelative to said orifice.

2. A beverage dispenser constructed in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid last-named means includes a manually adjustable element extendingexteriorly of said container and connected to said bellows support tomove the support toward or away from said vessel.

3. A beverage dispenser comprising:

a container having a tap valve for withdrawing beverage therefrom anddefining a beverage-containing chamber,

a pressurizing fluid vessel mounted on said container and having anorifice opening from the interior thereof to said chamber,

normally closed valve means at said orifice for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluid therethrough,

' a bellows support,

a sealed bellows defining a closed chamber filled with control fluidunder pressure and mounted at one end on said bellows support and havingits other end cooperable with said valve means to effect actuationthereof,

said other end of said bellows having its outer surface exposed to saidbeverage Within said chamber,

whereby a predetermined pressure differential across said other end ofsaid bellows causes said other end to open said valve means to permitfluid flow through said orifice, and

means limiting the degree of movement of said other end of said bellowsrelative to said valve means.

4. A beverage dispenser comprising:

a container having a tap valve for withdrawing beverage therefrom anddefining a beverage-containing chamber,

a pressurizing fluid vessel mounted on said container and having anorifice opening from the interior thereof to said chamber,

normally closed valve means at said orifice for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluid therethrough,

a bellows support,

a sealed bellows defining a closed chamber filled with control fluidunder pressure and mounted at one end on said bellows support and havingits other end cooperable with said valve means to effect actuationthereof,

said other end of said bellows having its outer surface exposed to saidbeverage within said chamber,

whereby a predetermined pressure differential across said other end ofsaid bellows causes said other end to open said valve means to permitfluid flow through said orifice, and

means limiting the degree of movement of said other end of said bellowsin a valve opening direction.

5. A beverage dispenser comprising:

a container having a tap valve for Withdrawing beverage therefrom anddefining a beverage-containing chamber,

a pressurizing fluid vessel mounted on said container and having anorifice opening from the interior thereof to said chamber,

normal-1y closed valve means at said orifice for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluid therethrough,

a bellows support,

a sealed bellows defining a closed chamber filled with control fluidunder pressure and mounted at one end on said bellows support and havingis other end cooperable with said valve means to effect actuationthereof,

said other end of said bellows having its outer surface exposed to saidbeverage within said chamber,

whereby a predetermined pressure differential across said other end ofsaid bellows causes said other end to open said valve means to permitfluid flow through said orifice, and

means limiting the degree of movement of said other end of said bellowsin each of two directions.

6. A beverage dispenser comprising:

a container having a tap valve for withdrawing beverage therefrom anddefining a beverage-containing chamber,

a pressurizing fluid vessel mounted on said container and having anorifice opening from the interior thereof to said chamber,

normally closed valve means at said orifice for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluid therethrough,

a bellows support,

a sealed bellows defining a closed chamber filled with control fluidunder pressure and mounted at one end on said bellows support and havingits other end cooperable with said valve means to effect actuationthereof,

said other end of said bellows having its outer surface exposed to saidbeverage within said chamber,

whereby a predetermined pressure differential across said other end ofsaid bellows causes said other end to open said valve means to permitfluid flow through said orifice, and

manually adjustable means extending exteriorly of said container andcooperable with said other end of said bellows to limit the degree ofmovement thereof.

7. A beverage dispenser comprising:

a container having a tap valve for Withdrawing beverage therefrom anddefining a beverage-containing chamher,

a pressurizing fluid vessel mounted on said container and having anorifice opening from the interior thereof to said chamber,

normally closed valve means at said orifice for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluid therethrough,

a bellows support,

a sealed bellows defining a closed chamber filled with control fluidunder pressure and mounted at one end on said bellows support and havingits other end cooperable with said valve means to effect actuationthereof,

said other end of said bellows havings its outer surface exposed to saidbeverage within said chamber,

whereby a predetermined pressure differential across said other end ofsaid bellows causes said other end to open said valve means to permitfluid flow through said orifice, and

manually adjustable means extending exteriorly of said container andcooperable with said other end of said bellows to limit the degree ofmovement of said other end of said bellows in each of two directions.

8. A beverage dispenser comprising:

a container having a tap valve for withdrawing beverage therefrom anddefining a beverage-containing chamher,

a pressurizing fluid vessel mounted on said container and having anorifice opening from the interior thereof to said chamber,

normally closed valve means at said orifice for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluid therethrough,

a bellows support,

a sealed bellows defining a closed chamber filled with control fluidunder pressure and mounted at one end on said bellows support and havingits other end cooperable with said valve means to elfect actuationthereof,

said other end of said bellows having its outer surface exposed to saidbeverage within said chamber,

whereby a predetermined pressure differential across said other end ofsaid bellows causes said other end to open said valve means to permitfluid flow through therethrough, said orifice, and a bellows supportincluding a platform, manually adjustable means extending exteriorly ofsaid a sealed bellows defining a closed chamber filled with containerand cooperable with said other end of said a control fluid underpressure and mounted at one bellows to limit the degree of movement ofsaid other end on said bellows support platform and having its end ofsaid bellows in at least one direction. 10 opposite end engageable withsaid valve member, 9. A beverage dispenser comprising: said opposite endof said bellows having its outer sura container having a tap valve forwithdrawing beverface exposed to the beverage within said chamber, agetherefrom and defining a beverage-containing whereby pressuredifferential across said opposite end chamber, of said bellows causessaid opposite end to move said a pressurizing fluid vessel mounted onsaid container valve member to control fluid flow through said andhaving an orifice opening from the interior orifice, thereof to saidchamber, a bellows caging member extending from said platform a valvemember cooperable with said orifice and movabout said bellows and oversaid one end thereof,

able longitudinally to control the rate of fluid flow said caging memberhaving finger means spaced from therethrough, said platform a distancesufficient to permit a limited a bellows support including a platform,degree of movement of said one end of said bellows a sealed bellowsdefining a closed chamber filled with relative to said platform, and

a control fluid under pressure and mounted at one manually adjustablemeans extending exteriorly of said end on said bellows support platformand having its container for varying the position of said platformopposite end engageable with said valve member, and caging memberrelative to said orifice.

and having an orifice opening from the interior thereof to said chamber,

a valve member cooperable with said orifice and movable longitudinallyto control the rate of fluid flow 12. The dispenser recited in claim 11wherein said caging member is movable by said adjustable means to apoint wherein said caging member finger means impinges said one end ofsaid bellows and disengages it from said valve member.

References Cited by the Examiner container for varying the position ofsaid platform UNITED STATES PATENTS relative to. said orifice.

10. The dispenser recited in claim 9 wherein means are $222 53engageable with said opposite end of said bellows for dis- 30O651510/1961 Midni "755 X engaging same from said valve member to render said30248O0 3/1961 Lfiwisg u 222 X bellows ineffective in actuating saidvalve member. 3127059 3/1964 ggggzzfi"" X 11. A beverage dispensercomprising:

a container having a tap valve for withdrawing beverage therefrom anddefining a beverage-containing chamber,

a pressurizing fluid vessel mounted on said container LOUIS J. DEMBO,Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiners.

1. A BEVERAGE COMPRISING: A CONTAINER HAVING A TAP VALVE FOR WITHDRAWINGBEVERAGE THEREFROM AND DEFINING A BEVERAGE-CONTAINING CHAMBER, APRESSURIZING FLUID VESSEL MOUNTED ON SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING ANORIFICE OPENING FROM THE INTERIOR THEREOF TO SAID CHAMBER, A VALVEMEMBER COOPERABLE WITH SAID ORIFICE AND MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY TOCONTROL THE RATE OF FLUID FLOW THERETHROUGH, A BELLOWS SUPPORT, A SEALEDBELLOWS DEFINING A CLOSED CHAMBER FILLED WITH A CONTROL FLUID UNDERPRESSURE AND MOUNTED AT ONE END ON SAID BELLOWS SUPPORT AND HAVING ITSOTHER END ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID VALVE MEMBER, SAID OTHER END OF SAIDBELLOWS HAVING ITS OUTER SURFACE EXPOSED TO THE BEVERAGE WITHIN SAIDCHAMBER, WHEREBY PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL ACROSS SAID OTHER END OF SAIDBELLOWS CAUSES SAID OTHER END TO MOVE SAID VALVE MEMBER TO CONTROL FLUIDFLOW THROUGH SAID ORIFICE, AND MEANS LIMITING THE DEGREE OF MOVEMENT OFSAID OTHER END OF SAID BELLOWS RELATIVE TO SAID ORIFICE.